Police Arrest Suspect After Sunday Night Disturbance

Man In Hospital Following Crash

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Police arrested a distraught man Sunday night after several incidents in which they say he harmed a family member, stole a vehicle and issued threats of further violence.

Sgt. Brian Hart of the Melbourne Police Department said officers were called to 1677 Sarno Road in Melbourne about 8:22 p.m. Sunday to a report of an armed disturbance where an adult son cut his father with a knife.

Hart said before officers arrived at the residence, the suspect, Michael A. Wease, 34, forcibly took his grandmother’s 2010 Ford Focus and fled.

Before departing Wease told family members he would flee from police, would not go back to prison and hinted to threats of bodily harm to himself and/or others.

Hart said officers and deputies from West Melbourne Police Department and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office were notified in attempts to find Wease.

During a subsequent telephone conversation, Wease told family members and an officer that he was returning to the residence.

Fearing he was returning to harm other family members, Hart said officers and deputies strategically positioned themselves in the likely avenue of travel.

Hart said officers then attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle. Wease refused to stop for police and stop sticks were deployed, striking one of the tires on the suspect’s vehicle.

He continued to flee from police as his tire deflated.

Hart said as Wease approached the Sarno Road residence, the vehicle left the roadway, striking a utility pole. He sustained non-life threatening injuries in the crash.

Wease was transported to Holmes Regional Medical Center for further evaluation and medical treatment.

Hart said Wease was placed under arrest and will be turned over to the Brevard County Jail upon medical clearance.

He will be charged with aggravated battery, aggravated assault, carjacking, fleeing and eluding officers with disregard to safety of others and driving with a license suspended as a habitual traffic offender.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call CRIMELINE at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477) or the Melbourne Police Crime Tip Line at 321-409-2259.